Information about conditions
is provided as a service to our patients for educational purposes only. "If
you understand your condition, you will be able to do the things necessary to
rehabilitate much faster." Please feel free to print the information so
that you can refer to it often. Sharing of information is quite risky, however.
Do not presume that information is meant for you if you have not seen the doctor
and received a specific diagnosis. Some conditions share similar symptoms but
require very different treatment. If you have friends or family who may have
similar symptoms, pleaseschedule
an appointmentto see the doctor.

Tension Headaches

What You Should Know About Headache

During the past year, nearly 90% of men and 95% of women
have had at least one headache.

Most people with a headache use nonprescription pain relievers to
treat their symptoms.

Store shelves hold a remarkable array of pain relievers, so you need
more facts than ever to select one that best meets your needs.

In light of the growing trend towards self-care, you have more responsibility
than ever in safeguarding your and your family's health and well-being.

There are two main types of headache: primary and secondary

Primary headaches include tension-type, migraine, and cluster headaches and are not caused by other underlying medical conditions. More than 90% of headaches are primary.

Secondary headaches result from other medical conditions, such as infection or increased pressure in the skull due to a tumor. These account for fewer than 10% of all headaches.

How Headaches Differ

Tension-type headaches Tension type headaches are the most common,
affecting upwards of 75% of all headache sufferers.

As many as 90% of adults have had tension-type headache.

Tension-type headaches are typically a steady ache rather than a throbbing
one and affect both sides of the head.

Some people get tension-type (and migraine) headaches in response to stressful
events or a hectic day.

Tension-type headaches may also be chronic, occurring frequently or even
every day.

Psychologic factors have been overemphasized as causes of headaches.

Migraine Headaches Migraine headaches are less common than tension-type
headaches. Nevertheless, migraines afflict 25 to 30 million people in
the United States alone.

As many as 6% of all men and up to 18% of all women (about 12% of
the population as a whole) experience a migraine headache at some time.

Roughly three out of four migraine sufferers are female.

Among the most distinguishing features is the potential disability
accompanying the headache pain of a migraine.

Migraines are felt on one side of the head by about 60% of migraine sufferers, and the pain is typically throbbing in nature.

Nausea, with or without vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound often accompany migraines.

An aura --a group of telltale neurologic symptoms--sometimes occurs before the head pain begins. Typically, an aura involves a disturbance in vision that may consist of brightly colored or blinking lights in a pattern that moves across the field of vision.

About one in five migraine sufferers experiences an aura.

Usually, migraine attacks are occasional, or sometimes as often as once or twice a week, but not daily.

Cluster Headaches Cluster headaches are relatively rare, affecting about
1% of the population. They are distinct from migraine and tension-type headaches.

Most cluster headache sufferers are male-about 85%.

Cluster headaches come in groups or clusters lasting weeks or month.

The pain is extremely severe but the attack is brief, lasting no more than
a hour or two

The pain centers around one eye, and this eye may be inflamed and watery.
There may also be nasal congestion on the affected side of the face.

These "alarm clock" headaches may strike in the middle of the night, and
often occur at about the same time each day during the course of a cluster.

A history of heavy smoking and drinking is common, and alcohol often triggers
attacks.

Rebound Headache Rebound headache may occur among people with tension-type
headaches as well as in those with migraines.

It appears to be the result of taking prescription or nonprescription pain
relievers daily or almost every day, contrary to directions on the package
label.

If prescription or nonprescription pain relievers are overused, headache
may "rebound" as the last dose wears off, leading one to take more and more
pills. This is a good reason to call your doctor!

Headache Triggers No discussion of headache is complete without mention
of headache triggers.

Stress may be a trigger, but certain foods, odors, menstrual periods, and
changes in weather are among many factors that may also trigger headache.

Emotional factors such as depression, anxiety, frustration, letdown, and
even pleasant excitement may be associated with developing a headache.

Chemical distress may result in head pain. Certain foods with additives
may be a trigger.

Keeping a headache diary will help you determine whether factors such as
food, change in weather, and/or mood have any relationship to your headache
pattern.

Columns A and B show the symptoms commonly seen in two types of headache. Compare
your symptoms with those listed and determine what type of headache you may
have by noting whether your symptoms are most like those in column A or B. Some
people have both of these types of headache. If your headache are very severe
or if you think they are some other type, do not delay in seeking professional
medical attention.

SYMPTOM

A TENSION

B MIGRAINE

Intensity and Quality of Pain

Mild-to-moderate

**

**

Moderate-to-severe

**

**

Intense, pounding, throbbing and/or debilitating

**

Distracting but not debilitating

**

Steady ache

**

Location of Pain

One side of head

**

Both sides of head

**

**

Associated Symtoms

Nausea/vomiting

**

Sensitivity to light and/or sounds

**

Aura before onset of headache such as visual symptoms

**

Note: Rebound headache may have features of tension and/or migraine
headache

When to Call Your Doctor of Chiropractic Although very few headaches
are signs of serious underlying medical conditions, call your doctor at once
if any of the items below apply to you. Call your chiropractor if:

You have three or more headaches per week

You must take a pain reliever every day or almost daily.

You need more than recommended doses of over-the-counter medications to
relieve headache symptoms

HOME REMEDIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Utilize moist heat packs
on a daily basis during the first phase of treatment. This will help relax tight
muscle fibers and bring blood to the region. Hot tubs and baths provide temporary
relief. Exercises should be specific and in a particular order. They should
be simple and aimed at stabilization at first. Seek advice from your chiropractic
physician on when to do these exercises and how often. When performed correctly,
rehabilitation exercises can be the key to avoiding multiple episodes of recurrent
pain.

MAINTENANCE: Regular spinal adjustments are important to
reduce the symptoms and restore normal function. Patients who receive monthly
spinal manipulation and therapy report fewer complications. It is important
that you follow your physician's advice about the frequency of treatment for
your particular condition. Follow our wellness
recomendations for absolute health.